School games: St Joseph's Girls hope to shine in hockey contest

Getrude Nabwire of St Joseph's Kitale dribbles past Mpesa Academy Foundation's goalkeeper Gennifer White. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

East African hockey champions St Joseph's Girls Kitale will today be doing duty for Trans Nzoia County in a race to extend their dominance at the national stage.

St Joseph's, who are the 2023 national handball champions were yesterday fired up ahead of today's Rift Valley Region Secondary Schools Sports Association Term One games in Eldoret.

They will be representing Trans Nzoia in both hockey and handball but with their eyes firmly on the national and East African arenas.

In hockey, the national giants will take on Kajiado and Laikipia in pool D and handball, they will contest for the tickets to national secondary schools games against Baringo, West Pokot and Elgeyo Marakwet counterparts in pool D.

Head coach John Lusaka yesterday said there will be no room for mistakes, even as he indicated that his girls are not going to underrate opponents in today's showdown at the Hill School Eldoret.

The decorated St Joseph's Girls Kitale are also the 3x3 basketball national champions and will be representing Trans Nzoia in the same event.

"No team is an easy opponent. We shall handle each team as they come. We aim to bag a ticket to the nationals," Lusaka said yesterday.

"The girls are prepared for clean podium sweeps in the three events they are taking part in. They are yearning to play and win."

As Trans Nzoia's St Joseph's Girls were firing warning shots, athletics giants including Nandi, Elgeyo Marakwet, Kericho and Baringo among others, were looking to face off in what is likely to be a major showdown.

Eldoret last played host to the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) national contest in 2023.

Rift Valley counties will be renewing rivalry in the contests to be staged at the Hill School Eldoret, Moi Girls High School, Chebisaas and University of Eldoret grounds.

Cheptonon Secondary School from Nandi, for instance, is not in Eldoret for a mere trip.

They have a formidable athletics squad that is being prepared not just for the national and East African stage, but to represent Kenya at the 2026 World Under-20 championships in Eugene, Oregon.

Joyline Chepkemoi, the East African champion in 5000m and 1500m and a silver medallist at the Sirikwa Classic junior cross country, is looking to prove a point in Eldoret.

Kelvin Kipkogei is also in the mix. He was the 800m and 400m national and East African gold medallist. [Stephen Rutto]